April
17

We <3 Mother Nature

We said it last year, and we are gonna say it again. Nature makes us happy. We surf in Her oceans, play on Her beaches, swim in Her rivers, salute Her breathtaking sunsets, and paddle Her lakes. We #GetOutThere and play with Mother Nature. That is why it is ever so important that we take care of Her natural beauties, not only as a company, but as individuals.

At MI OLA, we try to be as eco-conscious as possible. We are creating high quality swimwear that won’t wear out and is not made to be thrown away after a season of use. We source all of our materials in the US, including our hardware (rings) which are cast in Rhode Island. We print our patterned fabrics in North Carolina.

And all of the trims we can literally pick up two blocks away from our factory in the garment district in Manhattan, where our suits are made. We work closely with our factory and know the people who make our garments. They are all paid a living wage and have a comfortable working environment (we know, because we spend a lot of time there too!). Even our hang tags are made out of recycled paper and and we package our suits in biodegradable ziploc bags – so they can be reused, and when they make it to the trash, they will decompose. AND… when we do marketing give-aways or promotions, we do things that can be used right away… like Coffee, temporary tattoos that we apply, or a great tote.

As individuals, we recycle when we can, pack-in and pack-out on hikes, help to clean up our beaches, and try to limit the use of our cars. BUT we can do more. This Earth Day, we pledge to do more of the little things, because it all adds up. Like using re-usable shopping bags at the grocery store, carrying a BPA free water bottle for refilling, unplugging appliances when not in use, and donating old clothing. We invite you to participate.

Check out how our Brand Ambassadors do their part and what they pledge to do more of:

Kate D.

  1. I’m the chair for the Charleston Chapter of the Surfrider foundation so I work with the community to lessen their impact on the lowcountry environment including land, rivers, marshes and the ocean. We do that through several campaigns including litter sweeps, Rise Above Plastics, water quality testing, ocean friendly gardening and education.
    On a more day-to-day personal level I always pick up trash when I’m out and about whether paddling the creeks, walking the beach with my dog or running around the neighborhood. I’m a firm believer that every little bit makes a difference. I also recycle, stay away from single-use plastics like plastic bags, try to minimize my water use and walk/bike/skate when I can.
  2. Definitely stop relying on my car as much. While I do walk/bike/skate when I can, I don’t think it’s enough and I find myself making excuses to use my car. I have no excuse since I live in downtown Charleston and can get practically anywhere with my own two feet! Plus it’s more fun when you are out and about in nature, getting fresh air and enjoying the beautiful sunshine!

Silvia

  1. Being environmentally friendly means having a lifestyle that are better for the environment.It’s all about taking small steps Towards Mother earth so as to make this Planet a better place for our communities and generations to come.
    A good way would be to start with conserving water , driving less and Walking more consuming less energy,buying recycled products,eating locally grown vegetables,joining environmental groups to combat air pollution,creating less waste,planting more Trees and Many more. Turn off the light whenever you leave the room,Even if you’re going to go back in a couple of minutes. This is what I do everyday,this is what my parents taught me and I’m so grateful!! CHANGE EVERYTHING YOU DO IN YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE!! SMALL THINGS CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE!! We can all Help to save our planet, our loved OCEANS and its Many awesome creatures of the World .

 

Amanda

  1. I hang dry my clothes - cuts down on energy from the dryer and also makes my clothes last longer. No shrinkage or wear and tear from the heated tumbling. I buy local. Most of the time local products cut out over packaging (like a bottle inside of a box) and they don’t use excessive manufacturing or shipping efforts.I have become VERY cautious about plastic bags. Even if I forget my own bag; I never use a plastic bag when leaving a store.
  2. I could certain be more diligent about brining my own coffee mug when I get coffees to go.
    That’s a new resolution. Thank you for brining it to my attention. We can always try harder!

 

Katherine

  1. Something I try to do is limit my plastic and paper consumption. I always use a stainless steel or glass jug for water, and I always use washable dishes, cups, and utensils when eating.
  2. Something I would like to be better at is conserving water. When my camping trip is over I want to try to continue using less amounts of water for things like showering and washing dishes.

 

Adrienne

  1. I always use reusable bags, it’s a simple and effective way to lower plastic consumption. I’m also diligent on shutting lights off and keeping the heat low, put on an extra sweater and socks!
  2. I could pledge to eat less meat since a lot of energy consumption goes into feeding, housing, slaughtering and transporting animals. Also, doing my part in picking up litter that I see on my daily walks around town.

 

Briana

  1. I currently buy foods in glass jars so I may reuse them. I am also choosing to bike across the southwest instead of road tripping. I volunteer at a local farm on a regular basis. I walk or ride my bike around town instead of driving. I support companies that are environmentally conscious.
  2. I pledge to use less water while washing dishes and showering.

 

Ashley A.

  1. I try to limit the amount of animal based products in my diet and focus on filling it up with delicious locally grown fruits and veggies. I recently got my first share of local produce from a Co-op, everything in it was picked in season and grown less than 75 miles from my house.
  2. With the sun rising earlier and the mild temperatures this is the perfect time of year to try walking to work. Even if I can’t commit to walking it 100% of the time, smaller infrequent efforts still help the earth.

 

Susi

  1. I am big on recycling. I always walk or take the bike if possible, don’t leave electric devices on standby, watch my energy consumption, and sometimes pick up plastic bottles or cans along the way if go for a walk.
  2. I have to get better so there is less food wastage, grow my own fruit & vegetables, and need to be more prepared when I go to the beach & pick up a plastic bag full of rubbish each time before I surf! The beaches could be so nice and clean if everyone would do it!

 

Jessie

  1. Unfortunately we are not nearly as good as we should be with being earth friendly, however we do make a point to recycle everything that we can. 🙂 We are fortunate to have a trash company and a recycling company to come by our house twice a week to pick up items for us.We also try as hard as we can to eat organic foods, no chemicals.
  2. We would like to eat less and use less chemicals and use more environmentally friendly products.

 

Marianne

  1. REDUCE - minimize buying packaged products, don’t use plastic bags, water usage, shorter showers, and less loads of laundry/energy efficient appliances and only FULL loads of dishes to run dishwasher.
    REUSE - resuse bags, cardboard, anything in the house that can be before being recycled or thrown out, plastic bottles for gardening or starting growing seeds etc. use glass pasta jars as my cups in my home.
    RECYCLE - plastic, cardboard, cans, glass, compost veggies, anything that doesn’t need to be thrown out DOESN’T!!!

Ellen

  1. I live in the Northern Rivers, NSW, Australia, which is one of the most eco-conscious places in Australia (Byron Bay is our most famous town). The local council does a huge amount - they will recycle pretty much anything for us, but I do my bit by using solar panels to generate my hot water and electricity at home, growing some of my own fruits and vegetables and trying to be energy conscious - turning off lights/appliances when they’re not being used, putting on more clothes rather than using the heating!
  2. One thing I could definitely do better is cutting down on single-use plastics - not buying bottled water, not using plastic bags at the store etc.

Jasmine

  1. To be earth friendly I make sure to always be mindful of trash on the beach! I always throw away my trash, remind people to do the same, and pick up trash that I see so no animals are harmed!
  2. One thing I want to do more of is conserve water! I want to use more reusable water bottles and recycle recycle recycle! Happy Earth Day!

Jaylen

  1. I always keep a reusable water bottle in my car and on my person and avoid buying plastic whenever possible!
  2. Use less paper product (napkins and paper towel) and switch to washable options.

Kaitlyn

  1. I am currently driving less and choosing to walk or bike around my campus whether it be to class or practice or the beach. My school does a very cool program called yellow bikes. It is where there are about 100 bright yellow bikes put out around campus and anyone can pick one up and use it to ride to class or to your dorm. After you are finished, you just leave the bike wherever. This has greatly reduced car usage!
  2. I could work on using less plastic water bottles! I need to carry around a reusable bottle to refill and diminish the amount of plastic I use!

Ashley B.

  1. In my opinion every day is Earth Day. It’s important to conserve and appreciate the environment we live in. I practice sustainable living by recycling, riding my bike whenever possible, participating in Keep Tahoe Blue events, and educating others on what they can do to help preserve the place we love. As a teacher I plan science lessons where students learn about natural and global awareness. I always have a class garden consisting of various fruits and vegetables. I think these gardening units are life long practices in which students explore growing their own food. I also host beach clean ups whenever possible around the shores of Lake Tahoe. By being an environmentally conscious individual I understand the importance and difference each individual can make. As the wise Dr. Seuss once said, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
  2. I hope to participate in more volunteer programs locally. I also hope to spread the word about fundraisers regionally and locally. I think students should be educated on the issues that directly influence their environment and lives. I hope to devote more time to green practices and participating in events outside of my community.